It’s World Pride 2023 and the queer globe is converging on Sydney Australia to celebrate diversity, inclusion, community and fabulousness!

To mark this momentous event the STAGES podcast is saluting the cast of captivating drag divas and personalities who have been featured on the podcast during the past 5 seasons.

They are artists who have appeared on national and global stages; thrilling audiences, making a difference, healing community and expressing unique and wondrous talents.

We spotlight these episodes so you can savour a second listen - or so you can sample the delights of these entertainers for the very first time.

A Diva a day for each day of World Pride!

For 30 years Aaron Farley and his drag persona Minnie Cooper have been entertaining audiences from Oxford street to Oxford circus.

A happy accident in 2003 saw Farley embrace the art of drag and a new diva was born.

Minnie Cooper is an enamoured part of the Australian drag industry and a recipient of more Drag Industry Variety Awards (DIVAs) than just about anyone. Minnie has been awarded Entertainer of the Year on a record number of four occasions.

This new dimension in Farley’s career followed an established position in many commercial musical productions throughout Australia including The Witches of Eastwick, Showboat, Crazy For You, Chicago and Singin’ in The Rain.

Successful turns as a choreographer and director have also allowed Farley to flex his creative muscle, teaching a new legion of performers and constructing engaging artistry for audiences.

Minnie Cooper was abandoned as a baby and left in the doorway of Arq Nightclub. Thankfully, she was adopted and raised by drag queens who taught her everything about miming, glitter lipstick, platform heels and everything in between.

She is the Queen of Oxford St, producing award-winning shows and driving Sydney’s party goers wild with excitement. She has produced and choreographed many large-scale spectacles at events such as Mardi Gras ,Sleaze Ball and Flash Mobs .

Minnie has worked with stars including Jimmy Barnes, Cyndi Lauper, Kylie Minogue, Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue, Kate Miller-Heidke, Adam Lambert ,Deborah Cox,  David Atkins, Todd McKenney, Rhonda Burchmore and Australia’s most famous drag performer, Carlotta.

She has won more DIVA awards than just about anyone, including Entertainer of the Year 4 times, Sydney’s Favourite Drag Queen and Choreographer of the Year just to name a few.In 2016 Minnie was semi finalist on’ Australia’s Got Talent’ combining her drag and musical theatre talents.

She appeared in season 4 of Jack Whitehall:Travels with My Father on Netflix. Minnie Cooper most recently appeared in RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 2.

And this is why they call her the “Super Duper Minnie Cooper!”

Minnie Cooper performs her show, ‘From Chorus Boy to Leading Lady’ at Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon on Sunday February 19th. Bookings at wwwclaireskitchen.com.au

The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and from where you find your favourite podcasts. Tune in daily for a history of drag in Sydney. Tell your friends, share the podcast, relish the stories and embrace your own sense of Pride.